Air photo habitat inventory for Marbled Murrelet (MaMu) in the Central Mainland Coast Conservation Region
David Donald, March 2009.

There are several reasons why the BC Ministry of Environment initiated the Air Photo Inventory (API). Firstly, an API will provide a cost-effective alternative to the existing Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team (MMRT) model. The forest cover inputs into the MMRT model, especially on the central mainland coast, were derived from old small-scale air photos. Therefore, the newest API is considered to be more selective than the MMRT model since air photo interpretation can differentiate forest age, height and forest canopy complexity. The API classifies habitat into 5 categories unlike the binomial MMRT model which only produces two categories: suitable and non-suitable. The 5 classes are Very High, High, Moderate, Low, and Very Low.

The API is a cost-effective tool providing strategic planners an estimate of the amount and distribution of habitat, in all classes, in a large planning unit such as the South Central Coast Order area. More specifically, the habitat estimate, coupled with the ongoing verification analysis, will provide a statistically supported estimate of the amount of Marbled Murrelet habitat, by class, on the entire British Columbia coast. Moreover, the API is being utilized by strategic planners to understand the co-location potential of MaMu habitat with other wildlife values and EBM constraints in the South Central Coast Order area. The API layer has also provided input into the Draft Specified Area Order which proposes class 1, 2, or 3 polygons as potential areas to be captured under the representivity targets in the Central Coast portion of the South Central Coast Order area.

The API informs operational planners of potential conservation polygons. The air photo classification provides an estimate of class 1, 2 or 3 habitat and can therefore highlight locations for further low-level aerial survey investigation.

Summary of Marbled Murrelet Habitat Air Photo Interpretation Mapping Techniques: hard copy and soft copy
Ann Donaldson, RPF, & Brian Smart, RPF, RPBio. March, 2009.
Read the summary report [PDF - 22 KB]

Content coming soon.

Air photo mapping set
           

Jervis Landscape Unit Marbled Murrelet Habitat Identification Project
Brian Smart. September, 2002.
Read the final Report [PDF - 32 KB]

Quality Benchmark Stands Airphoto


Jervis Flightline Maps
     

Airphotos with habitat areas delineated
                             

              

                             

                             

                             

     

                             

           


Jervis Landscape Unit MAMU Habitat Area Summary
Jervis MAMU polygon summary spreadsheet [PDF - 78 KB]

Interpretation of habitat quality from air photos at Marbled Murrelet nest sites in Mussel Inlet on the BC Central Coast.
F.L. Waterhouse, A. Donaldson, P.K. Ott, and G. Kaiser. April, 2011. BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
Read the Technical Report

Using air photos to interpret quality of Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat in South Coastal BC
F. Louise Waterhouse; Ann Donaldson; David B. Lank; Peter K. Ott; and Elsie A. Krebs. March, 2008. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management.
Read the Research Report [PDF - 714 KB]

Using Airphotos to Interpret Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat in British Columbia: Application of a Preliminary Classification Scheme
Waterhouse, F.L.; A. Donaldson; and D.B. Lank. March, 2004. BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
Read the Technical Report

Use of Airphotos to Identify, Describe, and Manage Forest Structure of Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat at a Coastal British Columbia Site
F. Louise Waterhouse, Russ Bradley, John Markila, Fred Cooke, and Lynn Lougheed. February, 2002. BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
Read the Technical Report